Vacuum indicating device



Sept-13, 1938. c. E. EVANS 2,130,180

VACUUM INDICATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 24, 1936 INVENTOR.

BY CHARLES E. EVANS.

ATTORNEY. v

Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE one-fourth to L. G. Iowa Howard, Council Bluffs,

Application August 24, 1936, Serial No. 97,642

3 Claims.

This invention. relates to vacuum indicating devices particularly and to indicating devices generally. In sealing containers under vacuum, it is difficult to determine when sufiicient air has been drawn therefrom to produce the desired vacuum.

It is therefore an important object of my invention to provide means for indicating when sufiicient vacuum has been created in a container.

Another object is to provide a device of this character adapted for use in connection with the sealing disc whereby there will be a visual vacuum indication when sufiicient air has been drawn from the container to create the desired vacuum.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of simple construction and of low manufacturing cost.

Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the neck of a sealed container taken on line l-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a container embodying my invention in the sealing, disc.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through my invention taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the rubber indicator in the bulged position before a vacuum has been created within the container.

Figure 4 is a view of the same but showing the rubber indicator drawn inwardly after sufficient vacuum has been created in the container.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the neck and cover of the container taken on line 5-5 of Figure 6 showing a modified embodiment of the cover and valve.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 7 is an enlarged plan View of my indicating device with portions broken away to show the assemblage thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral l indicates the container body having an outwardly extending neck II and an outwardly and upwardly curved flange [2 within which is a sealing disc I3 having a seal 14 marginally received thereon. The disc is provided with an opening in which is received a stopper l5, said stopper being larger at the top than at the bottom and provided with arms It for limiting the upper movement thereof during evacuation of air from the container, the

air being evacuated through the opening about the sides of said stopper. Any suitable vacuum pump may be used in evacuating the air from the container.

The disc I3 is provided with a recess 11 within which is received a rubber disc l8 normally bulging outwardly in the center. An annular retaining plate 19 is secured to the disc'by spot welding or other suitable means and is provided with a central opening 20 through which the central portion of the rubber disc l8 protrudes. The retaining plate prevents the disc I8 from being dislodged from the recess. An opening 2| is provided in the inner wall 22 of the recess, said opening being beneath the central bulging portion of the rubber disc I8. When no pressure is exerted on the rubber disc l8, the central portion bulges outwardly. When air is evacuated from the container there is a tendency to suck the bulging portion of the disc [8 inwardly, said suction being through hole 2|. The normal resistance of the rubber disc will prevent said rubber from being drawn inwardly until substantially the desired amount of vaccum is created in the container whereupon the bulging portion will be drawn downwardly causing the disc 18 to expand, said recess being a greater size than the disc to permit said expansion.

Figures and 6 show a modified cover and valve for the container, the cover in said figures comprising a cylindrical portion 23 received in the outer cylindrical portion of the neck and an outwardly and upwardly extending flange 24 received in the flanged portion of the neck. Said cover is provided with a channel 25 adjacent the junction of the cylindrical portion and the flange. An annular seal 26 is received in the channel and adapted to prevent the passage of air between the cover and the neck of the container. An opening 21 is provided in the inner wall 28 of the cover about which is an outwardly extending sleeve 29 in which is received a ball 31! preferably of rubber, said ball being of smaller diameter than the sleeve. Air is evacuated through opening 21 and about the ball 30, said ball closing the opening after air has been evacuated from the container. A cap 3! is threadably received on the sleeve and is adapted to press the ball inwardly to more securely seal the opening 21.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, means forming a vacuum container having a recess in a wall thereof, said recess having a central opening in the bottom thereof, an elastic disk received in said recess and normally bulging outwardly over the opening in thebottom of the recess, and a retaining member secured to the container and having an opening through which the bulge of the disk extends, said retaining member holding the disk securely in the recess but permitting marginal expansion thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, means forming a vacuum container having an annular recess in a wall thereof, said recess having a central opening in the bottom thereof, an annular elastic disk received in said recess of substantially the same thickness as the depth of the recess but of smaller diameter than the diameter of said recess, said elastic disk normally bulging outwardly adjacent the center thereof, and an annular retaining ring secured to the container and extending over the maginal portion of the disk, said ring having a central opening there to permit normal outward bulging of said elastic disk.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination, a container, a removable cover for said container, said cover having a recess therein with an opening in the bottom of said recess, an elastic disk in said recess of smaller size than the recess to permit marginal expansion of said disk, said disk normally bulging outwardly of the opening in the bottom of the recess, marginal retaining means for retaining the disk operatively in the recess, and a valve for said cover adapted to permit a vacuum to be drawn in the container.

CHARLES E. EVANS. 

